Bio-renewable fast crystallizing phase change inks

Abstract

A phase change ink composition suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the phase change ink composition comprises both a crystalline compound and an amorphous compound which are derived from bio-renewable materials. The composition provides for a robust, rapid crystallization ink composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A phase change ink comprising:
 an amorphous component; 
 a crystalline component being a di-ester compound having the following structure: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R and R′ can be the same or different, and wherein R and R′ each independently of the other is a saturated or ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic group; and
 an optional colorant, wherein the phase change ink has at least 20% percent by weight of bio-renewable content. 
 
     
     
       2. A phase change ink of  claim 1  wherein R and R′ are alkyl groups with at least eight carbon atoms and no more than 50 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the ink is capable of crystallizing at a total crystallization time of less than 15 seconds as measured by the standardized TROM procedure. 
     
     
       4. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the amorphous component comprises an ester of tartaric acid of Formula I or an ester of Abitol E of Formula II shown below: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein each R 1  and R 2  can be the same or different, and wherein R 1  and R 2  each independently of the other is an alkyl group, wherein the alkyl can be straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, having from about 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and R 3  is an alkylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylene group. 
     
     
       5. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline compound is present in an amount of from about 60 percent to about 95 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink. 
     
     
       6. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the amorphous compound is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink. 
     
     
       7. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a ratio of crystalline to amorphous ratio of from about 60:40 to about 95:5. 
     
     
       8. The phase change ink of  claim 1  further comprising a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, dye or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       9. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline component has a viscosity of less than 12 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. 
     
     
       10. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline component has T melt  of less than 150° C. 
     
     
       11. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline component has T crys  of greater than 60° C. 
     
     
       12. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a viscosity of from about 1 to about 22 cps in a jetting range of from about 100 to about 140° C. 
     
     
       13. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a viscosity of greater than about 10 6  cps at room temperature. 
     
     
       14. The phase change ink of  claim 1  further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidant, defoamer, slip and leveling agents, clarifier, viscosity modifier, adhesive, plasticizer and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       15. A phase change ink comprising:
 an amorphous component; 
 a crystalline component comprising a di-ester compound of the following structure: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R and R′ can be the same or different, and wherein R and R′ each, independently of the other is a saturated or ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic group and the crystalline component is synthesized from the reaction of dimethyl terephthalate or terephthalic acid and alkyl alcohols in an amount of 2:1 alkyl alcohol to dimethyl terepthlate or terephthalic acid molar ratio, without using a solvent at an elevated temperature of from about 160° C. to about 210° C., and optionally in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the phase change ink has at least 20% percent by weight of bio-renewable content. 
     
     
       16. The phase change ink of  claim 15 , wherein the alcohol is a bio-renewable alcohol selected from the group consisting of 1-octanol, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       17. The phase change ink of  claim 15 , wherein the catalyst contains tin, bismuth, zinc or titanium. 
     
     
       18. A phase change ink comprising:
 an amorphous component selected from the group consisting of Abitol E succinic acid di-ester, dimenthyl tartrate and mixtures thereof; 
 a crystalline component selected from the group consisting of distearyl terephthalate, didocosyl terephthalate, didodecyl terephthalate and mixtures thereof; and 
 an optional colorant, wherein the ink has a total crystallization time of less than 15 seconds as measured by the standardized TROM procedure and has at least 20% percent by weight of bio-renewable content. 
 
     
     
       19. The phase change ink of  claim 18 , wherein the crystalline component is present in an amount of from about 60 percent to about 95 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink and the amorphous component is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.